Improvement in steam-generators



J T. RICH. STEAM GENERATOR.

Patented Novi 1, 1870.

[721/627 202 A17? mm fiihut Slater year one.

Letters Patent No. 108,936, dated November 1, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-GENERATORS.

F'he Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making p t O the e To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, J on T. R1011, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Steam-Gencrators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved generator, showing the air-induction apertures upon the v.side thereof, and the general outline of said generator.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation, showing the position of the air-apertures, the diaphragms, and the liftpipe'in the smoke-box.

Figure 3 is avertical transverse section, showing the front diaphragm and the hollow studs upon which it rests. I

Corresponding letters refer to corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to steam-generators; and

It consists'in the arrangement of the air-induction passages with reference to the igniting-diuphragms; secondly, in the mcansof comminuting the air-jets as they pass into the fire-box; and thirdly, in the construction and arrangement of the lift-pipe, which con ducts the products of combustion from the generator; its object being to provide a remedy ibr the objections which exist to the present forms of generators, the first of which is, that when the air-induction passages are placed as low down upon the leg of the generator as the y usually are, they direct the ingoing jets of air into orv upon the coal, or into the gases near the surface of such coal, and are liablc to be stopped up by the coal in the furnace. The second objection consists in the fact that, as at present arranged, the air is admitted in jets of too large an area, the consequence of which is that they pass through the gases as they arise from the burning fuel without being properly mixed therewith, and enter the fines or tubes in a comparativcly cold condition, thus cooling the contents of the generator to such an extent as to affect the pressure of the steam, and not nnfrcqiiently causing the tubes to leak in consequence of their sudden contraction. Another and very serious objection exists to steam-generators of the locomotive type from the fact the blast consequent upon the escape of the steam from the cylinders operates unequally upon different parts of the fuel upon the grates, thus causing such fuel to burn away more rapidly at some points than at others, the result of which is that air-holes are formed through such fuel, which permit large currents of cool air to pass through them and into the fire-box above such fuel, the effect of which is the same or similar to that above described.

The above-recited objections are obviated by this intention, the means used being, first, the arrangement of the air-induction passages in close proximity to the igniting-diaphragms, so that as the gases imtemperature of saidgases before entering the dues or tubes; and, secondly, by placiuga rose-head over the apertures through which the air passes into the combustion-chamber, so that such airshall enter in finelycomminutcd jets or currents, and thus be thoroughly mixed or mingled with the gaseous products of com bustion, audin that way furnish the oxygen for aiding the thorough combustion of such gases, it being a fact that they must be thus supplied and then brought in contact with something, the temperature of which is suflicient to ignite them in order to produce such combustion. Thirdly, by using in the smoke-box a perforated sheet of metal, which is made to surround a series of cones in the lift-pipe, which cones are ofgraduallyincreasing diameter from the lowest to the highest, 1 am enabled to control the effect of the blast from the exhaust-nozzles, and cause the fire to burn evenly on the entire grate-surface, and. thus'prevent the injurious effects above described.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, Iwill proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A in the drawings refers to a steam-generator, which may be cit-her of the marine or locomotive type, it bein g supplied with an up-take, A, dome A fire-door A, grates A, and tubes or flues A all of which may be of any approvcdtorm and arrangement.

B refers to an igniting-diaphragm or arch, which may be made of any refractory material, such as firebrick, soap-stone, the material of which crucibles are made, or. any material which is capable of enduring the heat to which in use it is subjected. This diaphragm is to be slightly curved, as shown in fig. 3, and is to be placed upon supports hereinafter to be described, its front edge being in contact with or in close proximity to the front sheet of the fire-box, from which part it rises, as shown, until it reaches a point somewhat above the upper surface of the fire-door, and beyond the center of the fire-box, where it terminates.

B refers to a diaphragm, which is to be of the. same material as the one above described, it being similarly curved, and arranged so as tobe in contact with the rear shee f the'fire-box, and resting upon supports like the c er, but having in its under surface recesses to prevent its falling, from such support.

0 0 refer to air-induction passages, which are arranged within the sides of the fire-box, and also within its front sheet, but so as to be but a short distance below the lower surface of the igniting-diaphragm, the object being to cause the air, as it enters the fire-box,

thus delivered to the combustion-chamber in acondition to be thoroughly and intimately mingled with the gases. These heads may beheld-in their positions by a bolt which passes through the air-passage, and has a slot through it, near its outer end, through which a key is made. to pass, by which they are held firmly in their places.

D 1) refer to supports, upon which the igniting-diaphragms rest, they consisting of hollow studs screwed into or otherwise attached to the'inten'or surface of the fire-box, so that theirintcrior surfaces communicute with the water space 0fthe generator, in order that water mayent-cr them, and thus prevent their being burned out. These supports are so placed as to retain the diaphragms in their proper positions, and thus allow the gases, as they ascend, to strike the under surfaces of them, and pass out through the throat between them into the coinbustion-chamher above them, and then into the tubes or fines.

E refers to the lift-pipe, which is placed in thesmoke box of the generator, it consisting of a straight upper portion (which may'pass through the top sheet of such box or chamber and enter the-up-take, as shown, or it may stop at the surface of the chamber) and a series of cones, F F F, 8110;, which are enveloped by a sheet of perforated metal. The lower one of these cones-is of the small pieces of coal which are drawn through the tubes from 'enteringthe up-take, and thus be thrown out into the atmosphere hy'the exhaust of the engine.

Haring thus, described my invention,

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is-

1 The arrangement of air-induction apertures with reference to the igniting-diaphragms, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The rose-heads 0', when constructed and arranged upon the interior of the fire-box, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The lift-pipe E, constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony-whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witmesses. W

JNO. T. RICH.

Witnesses:

EDWARD WILLIAMS, 'Osoan S. Wmsosr. 

